I joined the Army Reserves in 2001 at the age of 17. I found myself in Balad, Iraq from 2004-2005. I walked around Camp Anaconda and parts of Iraq with a camera in one hand and a notebook in the other. These are my scribbles about my experience in Iraq and returning home.

Thursday, October 01, 2009

The Department of Veterans Affairs is My Hero...Hopefully.

I've spent eight years in the Army Reserves and the way things are done generally never make sense. Over the years, I've found myself asking my buddies, "why the hell are we doing this?" or "wouldn't this make more sense if we did it this way?" But that is where the suggestions usually stop. No one listens to us, the higher-ups are stuck to their traditional ways, and everyone ends up pissed off. Welcome to the Army.

But the year is 2009, veterans are now in positions to have their voices heard, common sense seems to come into play, and issues are being dealt with accordingly. The main issue now: Education benefits. Veterans are enrolled into college and still have not received any of their benefits, they are maxing out their credit cards, and some have even dropped out. This is unacceptable and finally the VA has put together a plan to get emergency money to veterans.

"Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki today announced further outreach to Veteran-students eligible for a special emergency payment of their education benefits. Veterans can now apply online beginning Oct. 2. Veteran-students can also request courtesy transportation to VA regional benefits offices."

I plan on applying online tomorrow for my payment. You can do so also at: http://www.va.gov/

Good luck! And let’s be honest for a minute, expect something not to go right. Expect your check to come a day late or your records not to be on file…something, anything. You’ve been in the Army, you know to expect the worse but hope for the best. While some say this plan came to let be grateful it came at all.

On a more personal note, this semester is kicking my ass. I was enrolled in five classes but recently withdrew from one. I had to quit one of my jobs (which I couldn't afford to do) just to have enough time to do my homework. I have a three day drill this weekend, a test on Monday, I need to get a tutor for German because I failed my first test, and my credit card is maxed out because I had to buy school books. Awesome! I need you Department of Veterans Affairs.